do you think students who got kicked out of NS, were for a good reason?

Dying2nurse · May 28, 2017

And then there's politics. Nursing can sometimes be very political. Instructors are human as well. I think most students are removed with good reason but there are exceptions.

FurBabyMom, MSN, RN · May 28, 2017

I may not be the popular voice, but I think most of the students who "failed out" of our program deserved it. I say that because in each instance it seemed that there were plenty of opportunities to seek help and for improvement but students chose not to. Some of those individuals found other programs and went that route, appearing to be successful from what I see on social media. We had resources - a writing center, a test taking center, professors and clinical instructors willing to help students work on improving, we also had a mentorship program pairing upper level students with lower level students.

My school was pretty accommodating when things that were unavoidable happened. We had two students in my class end up in the hospital with serious problems and our school worked with them. We had plenty of students experience deaths of family members (parents, grandparents, siblings, cousins, etc) and all of those students were worked with to find a solution. I was on a school mission trip when my grandmother was admitted to inpatient hospice (from outpatient, home-based care). There were discussions about options and ultimately, my professors encouraged me to do what my family needed, the rest could be made up.

I remember sitting in our first nursing class in the program, sophomore year. Our syllabus exceeded 70 pages (our syllabi included both course requirements and the skills sheets for all skills that term, and that class was also assessment skills so it included a lot of detail for that). Very clearly in black and white were the most important rules: minimum passing grades, plagarism, HIPAA / confidentiality, attendance, skills competencies and validations, etc. These rules were explained in detail. Our resources were also explained. How to handle common issues professionally was also explained. Each class going forward, we a similar experience.

I won't say things were easy, they weren't. It was a challenge and the program asked a lot. Not unfairly though.

FurBabyMom, MSN, RN · May 28, 2017

And then there's politics. Nursing can sometimes be very political. Instructors are human as well. I think most students are removed with good reason but there are exceptions.

Yes, there are. I think it depends on the school. Ours made it hard for *one* instructor to derail someone. I had one classroom professor who hated me (no big deal, I wasn't a fan of her either). I had one clinical instructor who just *did not* like me for most of the term. Her outright contempt for me changed once she assigned me alone instead of with a partner and got to see what I saw, knew, and picked up on.

On the other side of the argument is that - I knew that these people stood between me and being able to graduate, as well as being eligible for licensure. There is such a thing as tolerating things for the sake of getting through the program. We were on quarters, so by the time you knew you hated something it was week 5-6, and you were as far in as you had left to finish. There is also such a thing as being respectful and professional when you have to deal with politics or interpersonal issues.

FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN · May 28, 2017

This is a case by case type of thing.

There was a woman who was dismissed from our program who I felt was treated unfairly.

She was dismissed when she failed an advanced graduate level course that was not required, and adult health. They said that since she had failed 2 classes, she was out. The reason I thought it was unfair, was that the advanced course was extremely difficult and it was not required. I didn't think it should count since it was not required. But, that's how it went. Compare this to another student who failed peds. He took it again and failed it again. According to the policy, he should not have been allowed to come back, but they did let him try a third time.

The main difference between these two is that the first student was very emotional, and cried to the professor. I don't know what she said, but I did see her afterwards sobbing and crying. Maybe she was rude or failed to take responsibility. The second student was very humble. It was his nature. I am also quite certain that he didn't cry.

I did very well in my classes and was never in any danger of being kicked out, although I did have one clinical instructor who attempted to write me up when I panicked during my first foley which wound up embarrassing her in front of the nurse. That did not go anywhere, as the Dean explained to her that panicking during a foley was not cause for discipline, that she could only require me to go to skills lab for remediation, which I happily agreed to do. That clinical instructor hated me and did her best to make the rest of my rotation miserable, but I responded by working extra hard. I look back on it as one of my greatest learning experiences. But it was just hell to go through.

By the way I did two more foleys for that instructor, with her breathing down my neck and criticizing me the whole time. I refused to panic. At the end of my rotation she gave me a very positive review.

Skippy97 · May 28, 2017

Omg did anyone report that! So unprofessional!

FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN · May 28, 2017

Omg did anyone report that! So unprofessional!

Not sure who you are responding to. Try clicking "Quote" on the post of the person you are responding to, or just let us know.

Skippy97 · May 28, 2017

Not sure who you are responding to. Try clicking "Quote" on the post of the person you are responding to, or just let us know.

Sorry about that! I meant to quote a user who said a fellow student admitted to forging a clinical professores signature.

allnurses Guide · May 29, 2017

I personally do not know of anyone who was actually kicked out of

our program. I do know plenty who flunked one semester and

decided not to go back. I also know plenty who just decided to

quit.

Ruby Vee, BSN · May 29, 2017

If you or someone you know got kicked out of NS, in your opinion was it for a logical reason? i.e. Not getting high enough grades, putting a patient in danger during clinicals, being late to clinicals numerous times, etc.

The first person I ever saw get kicked out of nursing school was kicked out because he wrapped the IV tubing around a popsicle stick he had taped to the side rails, then put the side rails down and pulled out the central line. I was in the room (I had the other patient) and saw exactly what happened. The central line was lying on the floor with the IVs still running through it, the patient was in a semi-Fowler's position and was bleeding like stink AND at risk for air emboli. The guy (my classmate) just walked away, went to the break room and sat down. I put on the call light (was standing my patient and couldn't around her and around the bed) and a passing nurse came in, saw the problem and immediately took action. Both patients told the nurse what happened, and the nurse asked me if it was true. I had to say yes. The nurse went to the clinical instructor, and my classmate was gone before our post-conference.

Next, I saw 5-6 students get kicked out for cheating -- one of them had stolen the exam questions from a locked desk drawer. I'll never know which one actually stole the questions, but they collectively told me and a few others what they had done and offered to share for a small fee. I declined and went to the instructor, but someone else had already been to her.

As a clinical instructor, I had to fail someone for failing to adhere to the dress code. (FLAGRANTLY failing to adhere to the dress code). I failed someone because even after three chances and hours of special help with study tips, practice questions, etc. from me, she couldn't pass the exam. I failed a couple of others for copying off of each other. A colleague of mine failed students for HIPAA violations. Most of us HATE failing students because it feels like an admission that WE failed to teach them. I don't know anyone who WANTS to fail someone.

Skippy97 · May 29, 2017

The first person I ever saw get kicked out of nursing school was kicked out because he wrapped the IV tubing around a popsicle stick he had taped to the side rails, then put the side rails down and pulled out the central line. I was in the room (I had the other patient) and saw exactly what happened. The central line was lying on the floor with the IVs still running through it, the patient was in a semi-Fowler's position and was bleeding like stink AND at risk for air emboli. The guy (my classmate) just walked away, went to the break room and sat down. I put on the call light (was standing my patient and couldn't around her and around the bed) and a passing nurse came in, saw the problem and immediately took action. Both patients told the nurse what happened, and the nurse asked me if it was true. I had to say yes. The nurse went to the clinical instructor, and my classmate was gone before our post-conference.
Next, I saw 5-6 students get kicked out for cheating -- one of them had stolen the exam questions from a locked desk drawer. I'll never know which one actually stole the questions, but they collectively told me and a few others what they had done and offered to share for a small fee. I declined and went to the instructor, but someone else had already been to her.
As a clinical instructor, I had to fail someone for failing to adhere to the dress code. (FLAGRANTLY failing to adhere to the dress code). I failed someone because even after three chances and hours of special help with study tips, practice questions, etc. from me, she couldn't pass the exam. I failed a couple of others for copying off of each other. A colleague of mine failed students for HIPAA violations. Most of us HATE failing students because it feels like an admission that WE failed to teach them. I don't know anyone who WANTS to fail someone.

Those are very logical reasons, incrediable that they had the nerve to do all that my gosh!

HermioneG, BSN, RN · May 29, 2017

Sorry about that! I meant to quote a user who said a fellow student admitted to forging a clinical professores signature.

Hey!

No, I didn't report them. I did give them an icy look and said something along the lines of "Idk that doesn't seem very smart or honest" and "thats not a good idea." Looking back I'm not sure if that was the right call, but they ended up being dismissed anyways. Its just a tough situation all around.

ProperlySeasoned · May 29, 2017

By far, the number one reason students get "kicked out" of nursing school is failure to meet pre-determined academic standards. If you achieve those standards, and exercise common sense and a modicum of professional behavior, you should be just fine. Caveat - I went to a traditional university right out of high school. Marijuana and alcohol were common weekend activities. Essentially, my friends and I got lucky. We had NO IDEA how an MIP might impact our academic standing or ability to be licensed later. If I could do it all over again, I would make very different decisions.